Lonely Raven, Rockers exposed! I wasn't sure with what I had been seeing spinning that anyone would be into it. My tastes over the years are leaning me away from it some probably due to age. Not to mention mellower music sounds better on tube gear compared to harder rock type music. Looking at more soulful sounding music and laid back to maximize the sound that tube gear offers. John Hiatt and more bluesy sounding stuff to relax a bit. I like watching this thread sometimes something will come along that I have forgotten about or maybe would be interested in exploring. Always looking for new music. I've found if I just go out and pick music up randomly I end up disappointed in it so I've been doing a lot more research before dropping the bucks for it. Not to mention the limited space to keep it.

I just had a moment - I'm not ashamed to admit it, I teared up a bit as I got a bit emotional...over a test CD.

I'm still having some imaging issues in my room, I grab the test disc below (ripped to FLAC) and go through all the phase and soundstage tests...they sound OK at best. Then the music comes on and Vaquero sounds great, I turn it up a little bit...then a little bit more...and soon I'm at 80% on the volume. ZMA is sounding great. The next tunes don't excite me much, and I'm about to either turn it down to background level or off and get some housework done, when I see the Toccata in D-Minor is the last track. I love this piece - it's a classic in Monster Movies, my Mom used to play good portions of it on the piano, and I even transcribed some of it to electric guitar with all the fancy two handed tapping, whammy bar, and special FX that make modern electric guitar so fun.

I guess I was a little unprepared for how good this would sound - I found myself cranking it; ZMA 100% full on, balls out - and I kid you not, I teared up with how beautiful it was. I'm sitting here now all puffy eyed as I type this.

"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, deceptions, and spoils;The motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Hell. Let no such man be trusted." William Shakespeare

Right now, one of my brothers gave me a break so I dashed over to my place and put on this new SHM-CD:

I love Monk and though his later recordings for Columbia and even Prestige and Riverside get more "talk," every time I come back to the Blue Note sides I am given a serious referesher course and get enthusiastic all over again. The perfect blend of exploration, querkiness and complicated swing, I just get drawn right in.

Lon, I haven't listened to those versions in 15 or so years. I need to find my complete Monk Blue Note Box...I may have some early single CD transfers of his Blue note output...I'll look tomorrow. I also think I have some Vinyl Blue Note reissues from the 80's.

Almost done with this one from the most recent Dusty Groove Buy... a Live recording with occasional off mic play. But overall great Music and very good sound. It is two LPs on one CD and clocks in at 76 minutes. Recommended. Mark.

"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, deceptions, and spoils;The motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Hell. Let no such man be trusted." William Shakespeare

Oh yes, I have all the Clarke-Boland Big Band recordings that I can find. Rearward has done a good job reissuing what they have. Kenny Clarke was one of the reasons I first put together a drum kit. His work in the 'fifties just continually blows me away. And Boland has tht Ellington thing as composer, arranger and player. And all those cats that came and went in the band. Awesome.

I came to Monk backwards. I heard the Columbia stuff first and I'm glad I did but when I went to the Blue Notes later my mind was blown. That is such powerful, concentrated stuff. So inventive and so odd at the same time!

Lon, I haven't listened to those versions in 15 or so years. I need to find my complete Monk Blue Note Box...I may have some early single CD transfers of his Blue note output...I'll look tomorrow. I also think I have some Vinyl Blue Note reissues from the 80's.

Almost done with this one from the most recent Dusty Groove Buy... a Live recording with occasional off mic play. But overall great Music and very good sound. It is two LPs on one CD and clocks in at 76 minutes. Recommended. Mark.

"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, deceptions, and spoils;The motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Hell. Let no such man be trusted." William Shakespeare

"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, deceptions, and spoils;The motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Hell. Let no such man be trusted." William Shakespeare